Identifying Premises

Premises are the building blocks of every argument. They are the reasons, evidence, and grounds that the author offers in support of their conclusion. While the main conclusion is the destination of an argument, premises are the foundation — without them, the conclusion is unsupported. LNAT questions test your ability to identify premises, distinguish them from other argument components, and understand how they function within the argument.

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What Premises Are

A premise is any claim that is offered as a reason to accept another claim (the conclusion). Premises answer the question: "Why should I believe the conclusion?"

Element	Role in the Argument	Example
Premise	Provides a reason to accept the conclusion	"Countries with universal healthcare have lower infant mortality rates."
Conclusion	The claim the premises support	"The UK should adopt universal healthcare."

Types of Premises

Premises come in several forms: